Welcome. There is translation. English will be on number 1, French on number 2, Italian on number 3, and German on number 4.
With the formalities done, I'll call the meeting to order by Standing Order 108(2), our study on the Canadian seal hunt.
I'd like to remind our guests and my colleagues that as a regular meeting of the standing committee, this meeting is public and is being recorded and transcribed.
Again, welcome. Perhaps we could give you a little outline of our study on the Canadian seal hunt. This committee has studied the seal hunt on a number of occasions. We thought the topic was relevant, given some of the moves of the European Parliament, some of the motions coming before the Parliament.
We spent some time doing a fairly comprehensive study once again that included the front off Newfoundland, the Îles-de-la-Madeleine in the Gulf of St. Lawrence, and Nova Scotia. Most members will certainly speak for themselves, but most of our members represent fisheries ridings and have a fairly extensive background in the fishery.
Without further ado I'll invite the chair, Mr. Seán Ó Neachtain, to begin.